by Lara Lacombe
That left only one option.
Wesley knelt and unclipped his gun from its holster at his ankle. It wasn’t a large weapon, but it didn’t need to be. Guns were prohibited on board the ship, so whoever was inside the room would be unarmed. One or two well-placed shots were all it would take to fix this problem.
The thought made him hesitate. He’d never killed anyone before. Never fired a gun at an actual person, for that matter. Did he have what it took to look someone in the eyes and shoot the person?
His hands began to shake. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, picturing Ryan’s face. The image of his brother in his khaki desert fatigues steadied him. Ryan had been a brave soldier; he could be, too. This was a war. Maybe not one fought on a field of battle, but it was a war all the same.
Feeling better, Wesley stuck the key card in the slot and listened for the click of the lock. He pushed the door open and stepped inside to finish his job.
Chapter 20
“We need to evacuate the ship,” Peter said. “How long do you think that will take?”
Everest opened his mouth to respond, but a sound across the room caught his attention.
Someone was unlocking the door.
Acting on instinct, Everest grabbed Mallory and practically threw her toward the entrance to the bathroom. “Hide, now!” he whispered urgently. The only people who had any business in this room were with him. That meant anyone who was trying to come in now was suspect.
To her credit, Mallory didn’t argue with him. She ducked into the dark room and hid behind the door, leaving it open a crack. Everest didn’t like seeing her exposed even a little bit, but perhaps it was better this way. It would look more suspicious if the bathroom door was fully closed, like they were trying to hide something.
He turned back just as Wesley walked in the room. He carried a backpack over one shoulder, and his other hand was down by his leg. He kept his hand obscured as he moved, which told Everest he was armed.
Everest’s heart sank at the confirmation that his second-in-command was behind the attacks on Mallory and perhaps even the bomb they had found in this room. Wesley had always seemed like a dependable, trustworthy young man.
So much for appearances.
“Wesley,” he said, striving for a tone of pleasant surprise. “What’s going on?”
Wesley glanced from Everest to Peter, clearly sizing them up. “I heard noises coming from this room and thought I’d check it out. Is it just the two of you here?”
“Yes,” Peter said, giving him a slightly puzzled look, as if he was wondering why Wesley would ask such a patently obvious question.
Thank you, Everest thought. Wesley might not have believed the denial coming from him, but he didn’t know Peter, and so had no reason to think Peter would be trying to protect Mallory.
“Where’s the doctor?” He sounded suspicious; maybe he hadn’t believed Peter after all.
Everest shrugged, trying to make it look casual. “As far as I know, she’s in the clinic. Why? Do you need to talk to her?”
“Maybe later,” Wesley said evasively. He stepped farther into the room, and Everest moved toward Peter, trying to subtly guide Wesley so he was standing with his back toward the bathroom door.
“Have you met my friend Peter MacKenzie?” he said, gesturing toward the other man.
“No. Why is he here?” There was an edge of hostility in his voice that Everest had never heard before. It seemed Wesley was no longer interested in maintaining a pleasant facade.
“Everest asked me to come aboard and look at a few things,” Peter said easily.
Wesley glanced from them to the bed, taking in the material strewn across the fabric of the bedspread. “I see you dismantled the bomb,” he said flatly.
“Yes,” Everest said calmly. “We did. Want to tell us why you put it there?”
Wesley shook his head. “How many have you found?”
Terror seized Everest’s heart with a vise-like grip as all the pieces fell into place. Of course. Why hadn’t he seen it before?
The radioactive material was distributed all over the ship. He was willing to bet that all the communication hubs were also now sporting small bombs like the one he’d just dismantled. Obviously, the plan was to blow up the ship, scattering radioactive debris all over the city.
Wesley had turned the ship into a floating dirty bomb.
“We found all of them,” Peter lied smoothly, betraying no trace of nervousness or unease. “So why don’t you take this opportunity to explain what’s going on? I think there have been a lot of misunderstandings going on—it would help if we heard things from your perspective.”
Wesley shook his head. “I don’t think so. And I don’t think you found all the bombs either. Did you get the one in the aft gym?”
“Yes,” Everest said.
The young man’s grin was full of malice. “I didn’t put one there.”
Wesley took a step forward, lifting his hand to reveal his gun for the first time. It was a small black revolver, the kind that fit in an ankle holster. He’d likely had no trouble smuggling it on board, especially considering his role as a security officer.
Everest glanced from the gun to Wesley’s face. The man looked nervous, but determined. Had he even fired that thing before, or was this going to be his first time using it?
“Is that really necessary?” he asked quietly. “We’re no threat to you.”
“Yes, you are,” Wesley said, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice. “I have a job to do, and I’m not going to let you interfere.”
“Who put you up to this?” Everest asked. This plan was too sophisticated for Wesley to have implemented by himself. Someone else was pulling the strings. Were they on board, as well? Or were they directing things from afar?
“That’s not important,” Wesley said.
“What’s your plan, young man?” Peter asked. “Are you just going to shoot us and leave us here?”
Wesley tilted his head to the side, as if considering the suggestion.
“Yeah, actually. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
* * *
Mallory crouched in the bathroom, breathing as quietly as she could while she watched events unfold in the room.
She hadn’t been surprised to see Wesley walk in. Something about him had always rubbed her the wrong way, and it seemed her instincts had been right. Seeing him move now, she realized he’d been the one to drug her earlier. No wonder he’d worn a mask and a robe and had refused to talk—she would have recognized his voice immediately.
Anger surged in her chest as she stared at his back. He’d attacked her twice. God only knew what he would have done to her if Everest hadn’t found her when he did. She’d probably be dead at the bottom of the ocean if Everest hadn’t tracked her down so quickly.
And now here Wesley was, threatening Everest and Peter because they had dared to interfere with his psychotic plans.
She saw the gun in his hand, and the rational part of her brain knew she should feel afraid. She didn’t like guns; she’d tended to the aftermath of their wounds far too often to ever take pleasure in shooting, even if it was just target practice. But the sight of Wesley pointing his small revolver at Everest didn’t scare her.
It enraged her.
This ends now.
She rose to her feet and glanced around the room in search of anything she could use as a weapon. The towel rack on the wall caught her eye, and moving carefully, she quietly pulled the rod free from the wall anchors.
Maybe it was foolish to go charging toward an armed man with nothing more threatening than a hollow metal tube, but Mallory couldn’t afford to doubt herself. She pulled open the door, and before she could think twice, she rushed into the room, the rod held high above her head.<
br />
Wesley began to turn as she reached him, but she hit him before he could bring the gun around to point it at her. A jolt went up her arm as the rod made contact with his head, and Wesley let out a cry of pain.
Mallory lifted her arm and hit him again, taking a perverse pleasure in the solid thunk that sounded as the rod landed against his body. She hadn’t gotten justice for her rape, but she wasn’t going to let Wesley get away with hurting her.
She hit him over and over again, her arm moving under its own power. It was only when someone reached out and wrenched the rod from her grasp that she stopped, her body shaking as she tried to catch her breath.
“It’s okay, Mallory.” Everest pulled her close. “He’s down.”
She blinked, surprised to find she was crying.
Peter knelt and checked Wesley’s pulse, then nodded. “He’s alive. You conked him pretty good, though.” He tilted his head to the side and studied her. “Who’s Blake?”
The name sent a shock wave through her system, and her knees threatened to buckle. “What?” she whispered hoarsely. How did he know? Had Everest told him?
She twisted around, trying to see Everest’s face. He shook his head, denying her silent question. “You were yelling,” he said softly. “You called out his name while you hit Wesley.”
“Oh.”
She glanced down to find Wesley crumpled on the floor, unconscious. There were red welts on his skin where the rod had hit him, and a large bump had already formed on the side of his head. Mallory studied him, knowing she should feel guilty for continuing to beat him after he’d collapsed. But she was hollow inside, and for a brief moment, she feared that if Everest squeezed her too tightly, her body would shatter into a million tiny pieces.
All of a sudden, the scene before her blurred and she realized she was being moved. Someone guided her down until she sat, and then Everest’s face filled her vision.
“It’s okay,” he said soothingly. “You’re fine now.”
“I should check on him,” Mallory said, her voice wooden even to her own ears. She sniffed, her nose feeling congested thanks to her tears.
“Peter is with him,” Everest said. “He knows first aid. Just rest now.”
She stared into the depths of his blue eyes, using his gaze as an anchor to keep her mind from slipping away into the past. “I didn’t mean to hurt him so badly,” she whispered. “I just got so angry because I know he’s the one who drugged me. I couldn’t stand letting another man get away with hurting me...” She broke off and shook her head, her throat closing up.
“It’s okay.” Everest stroked her hair, his hand large and warm. She leaned forward, burying her head against his shoulder. His arms came around her, strong and sure, and she breathed in his comforting scent.
“It’s okay,” he said again. “You’re safe now.”
“Don’t let me go,” she said desperately. “Please don’t let me go.”
His hold tightened. “I won’t,” he promised softly. “I never will.”
Chapter 21
It seemed to take forever before he saw Mallory again, but in reality, it was no more than a few hours.
After making sure Wesley was incapacitated, he and Peter had called the police and informed the captain. It hadn’t taken long for officers from several different agencies to arrive and for bomb squad officers to board the ship. The evacuation had been relatively straightforward, thanks to the fact that most of the passengers were participating in excursions in the city.
Everest, Mallory and Peter had been separated, each taken to different rooms in a hastily commandeered office building close to the docks. The police, ATF, FBI and Homeland Security couldn’t seem to decide who should have jurisdiction, so a rotating cast of suit-clad agents had visited him in a steady stream throughout the afternoon.
He’d answered the same questions over and over again, until his patience had worn thin.
“Don’t you guys talk to each other?” he’d asked, after repeating himself for what must have been the hundredth time.
He understood the need for careful questioning, but he wasn’t the bad guy and he wanted to see Mallory. She’d seemed so fragile in his arms, and he wanted to make sure she was okay.
Finally, after a last round of questions and admonitions to stay in town in case they thought of something else to ask him, the last batch of agents released him from the small room.
“What about Peter and Mallory?” he asked.
The man in the black suit shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll be done shortly.”
So Everest found a chair in the lobby of the office suites and sat, drawing on his self-control to keep his butt in the seat when what he really wanted to do was find the room Mallory was in and stay with her while the agents interrogated her. This had to be difficult for her—he imagined the last time she’d been questioned by the police was in the aftermath of her rape. And since her encounter with Wesley had stirred up those memories, he hated to think how scared she was right now.
He stood and began to pace, unable to remain still. Mallory needed him; there had to be something he could do.
He glanced at the closed office doors. He wasn’t sure which room she was in, but it didn’t matter. He’d go room to room until he found her.
The agents wouldn’t be happy, but too bad. They’d taken long enough.
Just as he took the first step, one of the doors opened and Mallory stepped out, followed by two agents. They said something to her and she nodded, but as soon as she saw him, she ran forward.
He opened his arms and gathered her close, burying his nose in her hair. “Are you all right?” he asked quietly.
“I am now,” she said.
The second door opened and Peter emerged. “I know, I know,” he said. “You want me to stay in town. I hate to break it to you boys, but I’m expected back at my post in two days. So if you have any more questions for me, better think of them soon.”
The agents in the room began to protest, but Peter shut the door firmly and walked over to join Everest and Mallory.
“Heck of a way to spend the day,” he commented mildly.
“This wasn’t exactly how I thought things would go when I called you,” Everest said. He felt a little bad that Peter had gotten caught up in such a mess, but at the same time, he was glad his friend had been by his side.
“You okay?” Peter asked Mallory kindly.
She nodded, not loosening her grip on Everest. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Thank you,” Peter said. “If it wasn’t for you, Everest and I would be in much worse shape right now.”
“Do you really think Wesley would have killed you?”
Everest nodded. “He would have tried.” And as close as Wesley had been standing to them, he probably would have succeeded in killing at least one of them.
Peter clapped Everest on the back. “Well, this has been fun. It was good to see you, Everest. Always an adventure.”
“Where are you going?” Everest asked.
Peter shrugged. “I figured I’d find a hotel and spend tomorrow sightseeing. Then I’m headed back to post.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He let go of Mallory for a second so he could embrace his friend. “Thanks for everything. Let me know if you need help smoothing things over with the brass.” Peter’s unsanctioned use of army equipment for civilian purposes wasn’t something his commanding officer would look kindly on. But since he had been instrumental in averting a large-scale terrorist attack on domestic soil, Everest hoped Peter wouldn’t face any disciplinary action.
“Are you kidding?” Peter grinned. “When this is over, I’ll have them thinking the whole thing was their idea. Might even get a medal out of it.” He winked, and Everest and Mallory both laughed.
“It was nice to meet you,” Pe
ter said to Mallory.
To Everest’s surprise, Mallory threw her arms around Peter and hugged him tightly. Peter’s shocked expression made it clear he hadn’t been expecting the gesture, but he returned her embrace, if a bit more gently.
“You take care of yourself,” he said, sounding a little gruff.
“You, too,” she said.
Mallory snugged back into Everest’s side, and together they set off for the exit. “What do you want to do now?” he asked. They stepped into the fading afternoon light and waved goodbye to Peter as he flagged down a taxi.
Mallory considered the question for a moment. The wind whipped a few strands of her hair free from her ponytail, and he reached over to brush them out of her face. She smiled up at him, her eyes bright and clear, and he realized with a sense of relief that she was going to be fine.
“I can’t think of anything in particular,” she said.
“Me neither,” he admitted.
Her smile turned a little mischievous. “It usually takes a while for a couple to reach this phase of the relationship, or so I hear.”
“Well, we’ve packed a lot of emotion into a short period of time,” Everest said. A thrill shot through him at her use of the word couple, and he grinned. “I hope this doesn’t mean you’re already bored with me.”
“Never,” she said. She leaned her head against his shoulder and let out a contented sigh he felt in his soul. “This is only the beginning for us.”
Epilogue
Three months later...
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Mallory let out a happy sigh as Logan and Olivia leaned in to share a kiss. They were such a handsome couple—Logan in his charcoal suit and dark green tie, Olivia in her ivory sheath, clutching a small bouquet of pale pink roses.
Next to her, Everest leaned in close. “They look so good together.” His breath was warm in her ear, and she leaned into his side, snuggling against his solid length. It was so nice to be with him again; their jobs had kept them separated for the past few weeks, and they’d both arrived in Virginia today for the wedding. They had the next few days together, and Mallory intended to make the most of them.
